Getaway driver admits to role in violent Hatboro home invasion

Wednesday

A Horsham man admitted to his role in a violent Hatboro home invasion in which a physically disabled man was beaten in March 2011.

Troy Schussler, 32, of the 400 block of Cloverly Lane, pleaded guilty last week in Montgomery County Court to felony robbery and conspiracy charges.

Schussler, who was the wheelman and one of five suspects nabbed in the case, entered an open guilty plea. This means there is no agreement between the prosecutor and defense attorney on a possible sentence and Schussler essentially is throwing himself on the mercy of the court.

Judge William R. Carpenter, who accepted the plea, postponed sentencing until he receives a presentence investigation report on Schussler’s background.

Schussler, who was released on his own recognizance, is facing a maximum sentence of 20 to 40 years.

“Certainly a crime of this violent nature calls for a significant sentence,” said Assistant District Attorney Nathan Schadler. “The judge will weigh the evidence to determine what that sentence will be.”

“He was not the gunman or the one wielding the crowbar but, in for a penny, in for a pound,” said Schadler. “He was clearly an individual who was aware of the plan, who assisted in the plan, who was a vital part of the plan.”

“While by no means the kingpin, certainly when you are involved in something like this of such a violent nature, a little part is a big part because you are committing such a horrendous act that was very traumatizing on the victim. The victim had physical disabilities which makes this crime all the worse.”

The other four suspects still waiting for their days in court include: Huett Johnson, 32, of Hatboro; Michael Wroblewski, 27, of Hatfield; Teron Utsey, 30, of Warminster; and Robert Johnson, 32, of Perkasie.

“We are working very diligently to bring those responsible for this heinous crime to justice,” said Assistant District Attorney Nathan Schadler.

Hatboro police were dispatched to the 100 block of East Moreland Avenue at about 2:30 a.m. on March 26, 2011, in response to a 911 call concerning an armed residential robbery.

Scott Hopper, his face and head covered with blood, was sitting on the staircase just inside his front door. Hopper told authorities that he had just been robbed by two masked men, one armed with a semi-automatic handgun and the other wielding a crowbar.

Hopper told police that he woke up to what he initially believed was a shotgun poking at his face. He then realized it was a crowbar. The two men demanded to know where his money and pills were.

When Hopper told the pair he did not have any money, they threatened to kill him, according to the criminal complaint. During the robbery, the suspect with the gun fired two shots in the bedroom, according to the complaint.

During the robbery, Hopper managed to flee from his bedroom to the top of the stairs but then fell down the stairs, according to the complaint. At the bottom of the steps, the suspect with the gun struck Hopper in the head while the man with the crowbar hit him in the body.

Hopper was able to make his way out the front door and, when he began yelling for help, the two suspects fled on foot.

The following day, police interviewed Hopper’s paid live-in caregiver who had worked for him about seven months, cooking, cleaning and making sure he took his medication.

The caregiver told police that several days prior to robbery, she had been at a fast-food restaurant with Huett Johnson and had overheard him allegedly having a conversation with an unknown person about wanting to rob Hopper for cash and pain medication, according to the criminal complaint. She also told authorities that Huett Johnson knew where Hopper lived and had been in his home about four to five times, the complaint said.

On the night preceding the robbery, the caregiver told authorities she had been in a Warminster store with Huett Johnson, Robert Johnson and two other unknown men, the complaint said. The two men later were identified as Wroblewski and Schussler, according to the complaint.

During their investigation that included DNA testing and a review of phone records, authorities determined that Huett Johnson and Utsey entered Hopper’s home, according to the complaint. Huett Johnson carried the crowbar while Utsey had the handgun, the complaint said.

The other three suspects remained in the getaway car, with Schussler driving around the area waiting for Huett Johnson and Utsey to return, the complaint said.

Margaret Gibbons: 610-279-6153; mgibbons@phillyburbs.com;

Twitter, @peggibbons

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